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Philanthropist Tom Golisano joins former President Clinton, Special Olympics Chairman Tim Shriver and four Special Olympics athletes – Loretta Claiborne from Pennsylvania, USA; Deon Namiseb from Namibia; Dustin Plunkett from California, USA; and Ioana Cioban from Romania – to mark Golisano's commitment of $12 million to the Healthy Athletes program.
Healthy Athletes
At more than 1.2 million free health screening clinics in more than 100 countries, the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes program offers health services and information to athletes in dire need. In the process, Special Olympics has become the largest global public health organization dedicated to serving people with intellectual disabilities.
That record of success and benefit led United States businessman and philanthropist Tom Golisano to commit $12 million to expand Special Olympics’ health-related services and launch a new Healthy Communities initiative. The donation was announced by former U.S. President Clinton at the Clinton Global Initiative event in New York City on 23 September.
U.S. businessman and philanthropist Tom Golisano as he announces his $12 million commitment to Special Olympics.
Healthy Communities
The new initiative will take the principles of the Healthy Athletes program but expand them from a series of single events to a steady presence in the lives of our athletes with intellectual disabilities and their families. Special Olympics has major offices in 170 countries around the world. Healthy Communities will be launched in seven countries (Mexico, Peru, Romania, Malawi, South Africa, Malaysia, and Thailand) and six states in the U.S. (Arizona, Florida, Kansas, New Jersey, Wisconsin and New York). Healthy Athletes has provided free health screenings and products to athletes for 15 years. See the press release for more details.
Did You Know?
- Despite a mistaken belief that people with intellectual disabilities receive the same or better health care than others, they typically receive sub-standard care, or virtually no health care at all.
- Healthy Athletes has the world's largest database of health data for people with intellectual disabilities.
- Through Healthy Athletes, more than 100,000 health care professionals have been trained to treat people with intellectual disabilities. These health care professionals provide improved care to millions.
- Special Olympics has given out more than 90,000 pairs of prescription eyeglasses to athletes who needed them.
Miracles at Every Turn
Moise Ahoussimou, a poor West African boy with an intellectual disability and next to no vision, is one example. While volunteering at Healthy Athletes, a doctor realized Moise had been blinded by cataracts. He was referred for a simple operation, and Moise left his appointment with restored sight. He saw his father for the first time. “I can see." He grabbed his father’s hand. “Hey! Dad, I didn’t know you are that tall!”
Miracles like Moise’s happen at every screening. A volunteer dentist from California, USA saved athlete Dustin Plunkett's life by finding his mouth cancer. Mariam Zakhary of Egypt, fitted with a hearing aid, heard her language and her coach for the first time in her life. Stories like Mariam’s are inspiring nations like Egypt to expand their offerings to athletes. All Special Olympics Egypt athletes now receive medical exams and follow-up care.
At the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece, thousands of athletes were screened by health care professionals who volunteered their time for more than a week. Photo by Adam Nurkiewicz
Seven Health Areas
Healthy Athletes currently offers health screenings in seven areas: Fit Feet (podiatry), FUNfitness (physical therapy), Health Promotion (better health and well-being), Healthy Hearing (audiology), MedFest (sports physical exam), Opening Eyes (vision) and Special Smiles (dentistry).
Officially launched in 1997, Healthy Athletes organizes its events in a welcoming, fun environment. Its screenings educate athletes on healthy lifestyle choices and identify problems that may need additional follow-up.
For more information on Healthy Athletes, contact Karl Hejlik, Senior Manager, Health and Research Communciations, at +1 (202) 824-0308 or khejlik@specialolympics.org.
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